Game device of the jackstraws type



Dec. 17, 1963 M. w. TAFT, JR 3,114,548

GAME DEVICE OF THE JACKSTRAWS TYPE Filed April 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR. MILLE NS W. TAFT,JR.

' BY Qm@ ATTORNEY.

Dec. 17, 1963 M. w. TAFT, JR

GAME DEVICE OF THE JACKSTRAWS TYPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 19, 1962INVENTOR. MILLENS W. TAFT, JR.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,114,548 GAME DEVKCE (1F THE JACKSTRAWS TYPEMillens W. Taft, 31:, East Lougmeadow, Mass, assignor to Milton BradleyCompany, Springfield, Mass., a corporation Filed Apr. 19, 1962, Ser. No.188,779 Claims. (Cl. 273-1) My invention relates to improvements in agame apparatus and is directed particularly to the provision of a pickup sticks or jackstraws game apparatus which provides entertainment forthe users thereof.

It is an object to provide such a device with characteristics suflicientto make a game or toy therewith by which means an element of skill isrequired to be exerted in order to play successfully.

t is still another object of the invention to provide a game devicewhich is simple in its operation so as to appeal to a maximum of playersof a variety of ages and is economical in its manufacture so as torender it suitable for marketing at costs lower than usually prevailingfor intricate game devices of the same general class.

This invention may also function as a toy and more particularly a toy ofthe educational type which can be used to test the intelligence andprogress of advancement of the user, while retaining the users interestover a substantial period of time.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device that can beused to test and aid in training the users coordination in instancessuch as cerebral palsy therapy.

This invention relates to improved apparatus for playing a stickbuild-up game of a type which is ordinarily played with an aperturedsphere and a multiplicity of sticks such as match sticks or the like.

The sticks are inserted into the apertures of the sphere in seriat-im ina criss-cross manner to be suspended or held by said sphere in a stackedmanner until the sphere and its stack tumbles, the object being toinsert as many sticks into the sphere as possible without toppling thesphere or wtihout dislodging any of the other sticks.

Important objects of the present invention are, to provide an apparatusdesigned to enable such a game to be played more conveniently; to impartto the game a new element of diihculty to give Zest to it; to facilitatethe play ng of the game by several contestants, with clear distinctionbetween the playing elements used by the different players; and toprovide an extremely simple and inexpensive apparatus for playing such agame.

The foregoing and various other novel features and advantages and otherobjects of my invention will become more apparent as the descriptionproceeds; the invention consists in certain novel features ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto annexedand more fully described and referred to in connection with theaccompanying drawings where- 1n:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a sphere and playing sticks of the typeshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded fragmentary plan View of multicolored sets of theplaying sticks of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the inventionshowing a base in the form of an animal.

One embodiment of the game apparatus includes a rack unit comprising asuitable base 1%, a vertically extending spring 12 having a lower endsecured to said base and standing upwardly therefrom and a hollow sphere14 fixed to the upper end of said spring member 12.

The spring 12 may be, if desired, detachably secured to the said baseand sphere .14, and will preferably be rotatable relative to said base,which may be in the form of an animal, such as a seal 10' or the likebalancing the spring on its nose as shown in FIG. 4 wherein all othercomponents, being the same, are numbered according to the numbering inFIGS. 1-2.

The sphere 14 is provided with a multiplicity of apertures 16 whichextend through the outer peripheral wall thereof and which are sorelated as to each other as to be obliquely arranged as to each other.The apertures 16 may be of any desired configuration and need not belimited to the shapes shown in the drawing.

The toy of the embodiment is completed by the addition of a plurality ofplaying sticks 18 which are adapted to be passed into and through theapertures 16.

The obliquity of the apertures 16 will be observed to dispose the sticks13, when inserted into the sphere, in various angular relationships asto each other.

The sphere 14 will be so related to the base It by virtue of theconnecting spring 12 therebetween as to support a quite top-heavy stackof the playing sticks 18, the spring member imparting a desiredinstability in the support of the sphere, as will be pointed outhereinafter.

For playing the game there are provided a number of sets of the playingsticks 18, one set being provided for each player and all sets havingthe same number of sticks. These sticks are of a length in excess of thediameter of the sphere so as to extend outwardlly of the periphery ofthe sphere when inserted into the apertures therein.

The sticks of each set are of a different color from those of other setsso that a player can readily identify his own sticks. In FIG. 3, wherein18a indicates the color white, 1811 indicates the color red, andindicates the color violet, only a few of the sticks of each set areshown. Actually there may be any desired number of sticks in each set.Any desired or practicable number of sets may be employed.

The sticks 18, being intended for handling by the players, may each beprovided with a geometrical formation such that some of the sticks maybe arranged in the apertures with others piled thereon, but liable toroll from said apertures unless properly balanced. The sticks arepreferably similar to each other, Each, for satisfactory results, inaccordance with the underlying idea of the game, is preferentially,though not obligatorily crosssectionally round, and tapers from acentral point toward each end. A playing piece of this character is,therefore, much like a cross-sectionally round tooth-pick. Anappropriate number of sticks will be provided so that two or moreplayers may play.

In playing the game, the sphere is first placed upon the springupstanding from the base in properly centered, upright position. Aplayer will then endeavor to stack up, by inserting into the sphere, asmany of the sticks of his set as possible. If a stick should drop fromthe sphere, or the stack becomes disarran-ged in any way, or the spheretopples over, the player will be disqualified and another player willcarry on the build-up of the stack with the playing sticks of hisparticular set. Each player will take his turn until a player has playedhis entire set of sticks or until the sphere collapses or upsets. Theplayer then having the lowest number of sticks remaining in his set willbe the winner.

Owing to the form of the base and the form of the spring the sphere willbe supponted in an unstable manner. The sphere, may easily move sidewisein any direction relative to the base while the spring and sphere mayrotate relative to the base. Such displacements may be caused bybuilding up the stack off balance or by jostling the rack in playing.The teetering movement of the sphere adds to the difliculty of playingand gives zest to the game. Any displacement of the sphere oif centerwith respect to the base reduces the stability of the sphere and 0 ifthe sphere becomes too much oil balance the sphere will topple or atleast move suflieiently from the vertical center line as to cause. thesticks or some of them to become deranged from the sphere.

The objective of the person who is playing with or utilizing this toy isto pass the sticks through the apertures of the sphere. Thismanipulating of the members through the apertures is a fascinatingpastime for children and is a test of skill for use in therapeutictreatment of persons who are suffering from certain illnesses, such ascerebral palsy.

Another modification of this embodiment is to substitute multi-coloredsticks so that a child can make up games utilizing the different colorsand these different colors can be used in therapy.

This embodiment or at least the sphere may also be formed from atransparent material such as a clear polystyrene so that the sticks canbe seen when inside the enclosure.

It is evident that by substituting multi-colored sticks, variousadditional games can be developed with the toy. Once again thisembodiment can be utilized as a childrens toy or as a therapeuticdevice.

It will be appreciated that the sphere may be divided into variouslycolored sections and may be perfectly round, oval or elliptical inshape, as desired. When the surfaces are colored differently and themembers to be inserted are similarly colored, games can be developedwhereby similar colored members are inserted into correspondinglycolored segments of the toy.

The construction of each of the embodiments of this toy lends itself toordinary injection molding processes and can be simply and inexpensivelymanufactured and assembled. It is evident that in most embodiments thematerial that is best suited for this toy is a transparent material suchas clear polystyrene but other materials may of course be used.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without departingfrom the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely asbeing illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of theinvention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by theforegoing description, and all modifications and variations as fallWithin the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appendedclaims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for playing a game in which playing elements are piled oneupon another until the pile upsets, comprising an apertured sphere toprovide support for the pile, and a spring member and base to supportsaid 4 sphere, said spring member and said sphere being formed withreference to each other to'provide an unstable teetering support forsaid playing elements and permit said sphere to upset when the pile isbuilt up off balance.

2. Apparatus for playing a stick build-up game of the type set forth,including a tiltable stick supporting unit comprising a base and anupwardly extending spring member supported by the base and an aperturedsphere carried by the upper end of said spring member for supporting astack of playing sticks, said sphere and spring member and base beingco-operable to provide unstable support for said sphere permitting thelatter to teeter and upset when the stack of playing sticks is built upoff balance.

3. In apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said base is in the formof an animal balancing said spring member and said sphere.

4. Apparatus for playing a game in which playing elements are piled oneupon another until the pile upsets comprising, an apertured transparenthollow sphere to provide support for the pile, and a spring member andbase for providing unstable support for said sphere, said spring memberand said sphere being formed with reference to each other to provide anunstable teetering support for said playing elements and permit saidsphere to upset upon any unbalanced loading of the pile, said spherehaving different colored surfaces, and a plurality of playing membershaving different colors similar to the surfaces of the sphere adapted topass through the apertures of said sphere, said playing members having alength in excess of the diameter of said sphere.

5. Apparatus for playing a game in which playing elements are piledrelative to each other until the pile upsets comprising, an aperturedsphere to provide support for the pile, a spring member and base tosupport said sphere, elongated colored members adapted to pass throughthe apertures of said sphere, the apertures being so disposed withrelation to each other to allow the simultaneous passage of saidelongated members through said sphere, said elongated members having alength greater than the diameter of said sphere, said spring member andsaid sphere being formed with reference to each other to provide anunstable teetering support for said elongated elements and permit saidsphere to upset when the pile is built up off balance.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS730,619 Drain June 9, 1903 846,133 McIntyre Mar. 5, 1907 2,871,018 FinkIan. 27, 1959

1. APPARATUS FOR PLAYING A GAME IN WHICH PLAYING ELEMENTS ARE PILED ONEUPON ANOTHER UNTIL THE PILE UPSETS, COMPRISING AN APERTURED SPHERE TOPROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE PILE, AND A SPRING MEMBER AND BASE TO SUPPORTSAID SPHERE, SAID SPRING MEMBER AND SAID SPHERE BEING FORMED WITHREFERENCE TO EACH OTHER TO PROVIDE AN UNSTABLE TEETERING SUPPORT FORSAID PLAYING ELEMENTS AND PERMIT SAID SPHERE TO UPSET WHEN THE PILE ISBUILT UP OFF BALANCE.